Senior councillors gathered to mark the start of a £6.65 million scheme to improve the A2500 on the Isle of Sheppey today.

KCC cabinet member for highways and transport Mike Whiting grabbed hold of a spade, watched by Sittingbourne and Sheppey MP Gordon Henderson and Andrew Bowles, leader of Swale council.

Engineers are building a roundabout to replace traffic lights at the junction of the Lower Road and Barton Hill Drive.

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The lights have been blamed for causing delays for residents and holidaymakers, especially since more homes have been built at nearby Thistle Hill.

Cllr Whiting said: “The Lower Road is a key road on Sheppey. Any issue at this junction can cause gridlock across the entire Island.

"For that reason, I’m delighted to see work on this long-awaited and much-needed roundabout begin today.

“This is a big scheme and there will undoubtedly be some disruption while it is being built. I can only apologise for that and ask people to bear with us while it is being constructed.”

Mr Henderson said: “I am delighted that at long last work has begun on this much-needed improvement to the Lower Road.

"Islanders have put up with congestion caused by an inadequate junction at the bottom of Barton’s Hill Road for far too long.

“I have been campaigning since becoming MP for a solution to the daily problems faced by my constituents and I am grateful for the support given to me in that campaign by Island borough and county councillors; and local parish councils, particularly Minster Parish Council.

“I am grateful also for the Government for coming up with the funding for the development and farmer Stephen Atwood for contributing some of his land to enable the scheme to progress.”

Cllr Bowles said: “It’s great to see work getting underway to help tackle congestion on this key stretch of road.

"Residents have been extremely patient while both Swale and Kent have worked to find the funding for the much-needed improvements.

“This is a key stretch of road for residents and visitors so I’m pleased the work programme has addressed our concerns about potential disruption and do as much as possible off the carriageway until the busy summer season is finished.

“With other regeneration schemes making good progress, we are already hoping to increase our focus to helping boost the Island’s economy.”

The roundabout is being paid with £1.26 million from the Department of Transport (DfT) through the Local Growth Fund (LGF) allocated to the South East Local Enterprise Partnership and contributions from local developments.

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The first phase is expected to be completed by January next year.

A second phase , funded by a further £3.2 million provided from the National Productivity Investment Fund together with further contributions from local developments, will widen the Lower Road from Cowstead Corner to Barton Hill Drive and will include a new path and cycleway.

Barton Hill Drive will be closed for 12 weeks in August and traffic diverted along Thistle Hill Way and Plover Road.

Construction will take place during normal working hours but some resurfacing may be carried out at night.

The contract has been awarded to Breheny Civil Engineering.